Methanol is an extremely dangerous, flammable liquid. It’s important to be educated on what it’s capable of, especially if children are using it in science experiments to produce flames.

• Methanol is highly flammable.

• The agent will be easily ignited by heat, sparks, or flames.

• Fire will produce irritating, corrosive, and/or toxic gases.

• Vapors may travel to the source of ignition and flash back.

• For small fires, use dry chemical, carbon dioxide, water spray, or alcohol-resistant foam.

• Methanol can be absorbed into the body by inhalation, ingestion, skin contact, or eye contact. Ingestion is an important route of exposure.

  • Too much exposure can cause headache, dizziness, nausea, visual disturbances, blurred vision, and more.

• Methanol vapors may be heavier than air. They will spread along the ground and collect and stay in poorly-ventilated, low-lying, or confined areas

The Most Dangerous Part of Methanol In Classroom Experiments: THE INVISIBLE TRAIL

• A dangerous fire hazard where invisible methanol vapors travel along the ground to an ignition source, ignite, and rapidly flash back to the original fuel source

• This is because of:

  • Denser-Than-Air Vapors: Because it’s denser, it does not dissipate quickly into the atmosphere, settling low to the ground like an invisible river

  • Low Flash Point: Methanol has a low flash point. This means that even at room temperature, it emits enough vapor to form an explosive mixture with the surrounding air. Mixtures of methanol vapor and air are highly explosive

• When ignited with methanol, a fire may look like it is going out because you can’t see it anymore. However, because of the invisible trail, there is still vapor in the air that can ignite on fire. Students should NEVER try to reignite the fire when performing experiments such as the “rainbow fire” demonstration.